Allegro
Currently Browsing: July, 2002
Music Played a Central Role in Healing Process
Ministry to WTC Site Workers Ends at St. Paul's Chapel
At 9:30 on the morning of June 1, two firemen slept face down on cots off to one side of St. Paul’s Chapel. On the other side of the pews, Sharon Gunderson, clad in a flowing blouse, played Bach on
Trustees Modify Plan to Stem Continuing Losses, Restore Fund’s Stability
Health Benefits Plan Update
Trustees of the Local 802 Health Benefit Plan have implemented several cost-cutting measures intended to stem heavy losses the plan has experienced in the last three years. The Trustees took this action at their June 12 meeting, after the plan’s
Local 802 and League Evaluate Health and Safety ‘Prototypes’
One important provision of the current Broadway agreement was the designation of several “prototype” productions that would implement innovative sound and air treatments in an effort to address longstanding health and safety concerns. On May 15, representatives of 802 and
Rally Demands a Voice for Teachers At Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center
Faculty of the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center and Local 802 staged a gala rally on May 29 to protest the anti-union campaign management is waging to prevent its teaching artists from gaining union representation. The rally took place across from
Strike Authorization Vote at Mostly Mozart
Members of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, concerned about the slow pace of contract negotiations, voted unanimously on June 1 to authorize the union and their committee to call a strike if progress is not made on achieving a new
Four are Awarded Anne Walker Scholarships
The Anne Walker Scholarship Fund has awarded four scholarships for the coming academic year, to help 802 members or their children pursue studies in music. This year’s grantees are: Ann Gerschefski, a pianist and music director who is pursuing a
Clearwater Becomes First Union Folk Festival
The Clearwater Folk Festival, founded by Pete Seeger to raise funds to clean up the Hudson River, became the first union folk festival ever held on the North American continent this summer. Representatives of the festival and of AFM Local
802 Continues Efforts to Get Contracts for Non-Union String Engagements
Protecting Club Date Standards
Last year Allegro ran an article outlining problems in the club date field involving classically-trained musicians who earn much of their living performing ceremonies and preheats for club date employers. In many cases, these engagements are contracted by union members
Borough of Queens Honors Julius and Ruth Grossman
June 23, 2002, was officially celebrated as “Julius and Ruth Grossman Day” in Queens. A proclamation issued by Borough President Helen M. Marshall saluted them on the occasion of their birthdays (Julius will be 90 in November, and Ruth recently
President’s Report
‘Vertical Integration’ in Music Business Requires Government Action
The rapid concentration that has been taking place in radio station ownership over the past several years has profound implications for listeners, record companies, and recording and concertizing musicians. A fair amount of media attention has been given to this
The Labor Community Advocacy Network for Rebuilding New York
Guest Commentary
Decisions regarding the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and the region are being made at a rapid pace. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) – the quasi-government agency whose board members were appointed by Governor Pataki (eight), Mayor Giuliani (four), and
Actors Federal Credit Union Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary
Lend money to actors? Are you crazy? Despite this early response from those outside the entertainment community, Actors Federal Credit Union has grown to a full-service credit union, as they celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2002. “Our year-long anniversary celebration,
Allegro Interviews Irving Fields
What’s the key to success and longevity in the music industry? For one Local 802 member of 65 years it can be summed up in one old saying: “Give the people what they want.” For more than seven decades Irving
The Impact of Grief on Creativity
Musicians' Assistance Program
Grief, fully acknowledged and expressed, can inspire and infuse our work and our life with greater vitality and renewed purpose. Losses that remain unrecognized or incompletely mourned can block or stunt our creativity. Unresolved grief can also express itself in
Legislative Update
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COBRA SUBSIDY BILL: AN UPDATE RAISE THE WORKERS COMPENSATION BENEFIT MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FEMA EXTENDS GUIDELINES TO ASSIST MORE INDIVIDUALS EXTEND UMEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS Local 802 has been supporting the New York State Extended Unemployment Benefits Act
Negotiations Roundup
METROPOLITAN OPERA Over the past several months Local 802 and the Metropolitan Opera Association have reached agreement for successor contracts for the Met Extra Musicians, the Met Music Staff and the Librarians for the five-year period from Aug. 1, 2001,
Grievance Corner
MAMMA MIA Local 802 settled a grievance brought against the producers of the Broadway production of Mamma Mia. The two guitarists in that orchestra perform on sophisticated electronic instruments that are able to emulate the sounds of various guitar and
Executive Board Minutes
April 23, 2002 -- May 21, 2002
TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2002 Meeting called to order at 11:27 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon,
Coordinating Advisory Committee
January 8, 2002 Members of the Coordinating Advisory Committee: Unanimously approved a request from Jimmy Owens for reimbursement of expenses for attending the IAJE convention in Long Beach, Calif., Jan. 8-13. Up to $1,785 will be reimbursable, upon submission of
Bill Crow’s Band Room
On mornings that I come to Local 802, I often stop at the Au Bon Pain in the Port Authority bus depot for a bit of breakfast before I walk up to 48th Street. One morning I was sitting at